Nobody’s figured out how to stop Billy Idol

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Last week was a whirlwind for Billy Idol! He performed his hit song “Rebel Yell” with Carrie Underwood on “American Idol,” unexpectedly joined Sombr on stage at Coachella to play “Eyes Without a Face,” and received the exciting news that he’ll be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2026.

The singer, with his hair still spiked and a relaxed upper lip, said he was staying busy at his Hollywood Hills home while taking a break from work.

Billy Idol, now 70, first became known during the energetic punk rock scene in London in the mid-1970s. After fronting the band Generation X, he launched a successful solo career and became a major rock star during the MTV years with popular songs like “White Wedding” and “Dancing With Myself.” Remarkably, he’s remained popular ever since, recently performing at major venues like the Kia Forum and Madison Square Garden. His 1984 hit, the atmospheric and slightly unsettling ballad “Eyes Without a Face,” has also found a new audience thanks to its popularity on TikTok and Instagram.

Twenty-year-old Sombr raves about Billy, calling him a legend and “Eyes” a personal favorite. He explains that Billy skillfully blends rock and pop music, creating a sound that still feels fresh today, and says Billy’s music greatly inspires his own work.

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Billy Idol shares his life story, including a struggle with drug addiction, in a new documentary called “Billy Idol Should Be Dead.” He’s also planning a tour this summer, with a week-long residency at the Fontainebleau hotel in Las Vegas.

I was curious about how he was holding up, so I sat down with the singer and his longtime guitarist and co-writer, Steve Stevens, in his somewhat shadowy living room. The room was filled with books and old VHS tapes, and a humidifier was running softly. Our conversation ended up covering everything from why he often goes shirtless to a story about Geese, and his complex relationship with John Lydon – better known as Johnny Rotten. It turns out Lydon’s former Sex Pistols bandmates, Steve Jones and Paul Cook, occasionally play with the singer in a band appropriately named Generation Sex.

People are really enjoying “Eyes Without a Face” again, and Steve Stevens thinks it’s because it has all the elements of a classic Billy Idol hit: memorable lyrics, a catchy tune, and some energetic guitar work.

Was releasing a ballad a risky move back then?

Billy Idol: It felt that way until the guitar solo kicked in. That’s when the song balanced soft vocals with a powerful sound. Plus, Keith Forsey’s production helped us steer clear of cheesy ’80s effects that held other bands back.

Stevens: Billy was really into reggae at the time. I recall you mentioning the bass needed to sound like something Lee “Scratch” Perry would produce. We went through a lot of bass players – none of them quite fit until we finally found one who did.

Idol: Sal Cuevas. He was playing for the “Dreamgirls” show, and finally somebody got it right.

The song ‘Idol’ wasn’t meant to be a typical love song. The artist wanted to go against the grain of many 1980s hits, which often focused on positive themes. Instead of a hopeful message like ‘True Colors,’ the song expresses a darker, more pessimistic outlook – a sense that things are falling apart and getting worse.

In the documentary, you discuss how your main goal when you started your solo career was to combine rock and dance music. You explain that rock ‘n’ roll has always been dance music, essentially music made for intimacy. You were also experiencing a lot of personal growth at the time, fueled by a relationship with Perri Lister and the exploration of your sexuality, which helped you move beyond just being a teenager.

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I asked Steve how he approached using guitar in a dance-focused sound. He explained it was a chance to try something different. When he and Billy started working together, a lot of guitarists were focused on fast, flashy solos – inspired by Eddie Van Halen, but often just copies. Steve wasn’t interested in that style; he never cared much for playing long solos just for the sake of it. With Billy, the idea was that any guitar solo needed to serve a purpose and fit the music.

According to John Sykes at the Rock Hall, you always grasped how crucial the visual side of performing is. What led you to that understanding?

Idol: I learned a lot from watching bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and David Bowie. The film “A Hard Day’s Night” showed me that performers didn’t just have to stand still while playing their instruments – they could be energetic and playful. I also had a book of horror films with a striking image of Boris Karloff at a black altar with white crosses, and I decided to use that imagery for my “White Wedding” performance.

When you first became popular on MTV, were you comfortable with being seen as a sex symbol?

Billy Idol: I played up that image a little on purpose – things like taking my shirt off and showing my body. Later, I really focused on getting in shape, especially after I got sober. I wanted to bring a sense of sexiness to punk rock, because it was something that was lacking at the time. In England, Johnny Rotten was very against sex, even disgusted by it. But I was embracing it, and I wanted people to see that energy from me.

Someone asked Steve if he felt comfortable performing for large audiences. Steve responded by saying that when you’re sharing the stage with someone like Billy Idol, you definitely need to make an effort with your appearance – a flannel shirt just wouldn’t do!

We’ve been asked who reminds us of ourselves as a younger artist, and Yungblud immediately comes to mind. He’s a lot like I was, always moving around – though he’ll probably learn to stand still every now and then!

I never remember seeing him wearing a shirt. He’s been going without one all night. He used to remove his shirt during performances of “Rebel Yell.”

The growing popularity of artists like Yungblud and Sombr suggests that rock music is still very much alive and well in 2026. One example is the band Geese, who recently performed and really connected with the audience despite – or perhaps because of – their unique and unconventional approach. Fans were passionately singing along, even though the lyrics were often difficult to make out.

Someone asked me what made me want to see the band Geese. I’d heard good things, but hadn’t had a chance to see them live. Then, while I was in Paris for an Ann Demeulemeester fashion show – I was scheduled to walk in it – they were performing. I think their success is encouraging because it proves you can find an audience without simply imitating popular music.

The document mentions that Generation X emerged from a feeling among young people that they didn’t have a future in the U.K. When asked about this, Idol explained that this feeling is what inspired Johnny Rotten to write the lyrics for the Sex Pistols’ song “God Save the Queen.”

Young Americans are expressing a similar sense of disillusionment. According to one observer, many feel the 2008 financial crisis signaled the decline of American dominance, and a breakdown in constructive conversation has left people searching for meaning. This could explain the renewed interest in rock and roll music.

Have you been in contact with John Lydon recently?

Idol: We shared the stage at a festival in England last year, so I saw him. We didn’t actually talk, but I watched Public Image perform. He wasn’t thrilled when I put together Generation Sex, because he didn’t want me performing Sex Pistols songs. But my intention wasn’t to replace Johnny; I just wanted to give Jonesy and Cookie a chance to play for the fans. They’re now enjoying touring with Frank Carter, and that could easily be Johnny – it really should be Johnny – but he’s chosen not to participate.

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Old disagreements tend to either fade away over time or become more intense. For example, consider the band Pink Floyd: David Gilmour and Roger Waters reportedly can’t even be in the same room together, let alone collaborate musically. We often see similar situations with established bands – they end up suing each other or falling apart. It’s sad to see, considering how close they once were.

Honestly, the idea of us ever suing each other? It just wouldn’t happen. That’s not who we are, and we surround ourselves with people who feel the same way – people who resolve things without resorting to legal action.

During Billy’s worst struggles with addiction, Steve, did you ever feel angry with him for potentially harming your own career?

Steve: I don’t think so. I was also making mistakes at the time – I wasn’t perfect either.

Finally, do you believe the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has given punk rock the recognition it deserves?

Idol: They inducted the MC5 a couple of years ago, and Iggy Pop is already in. However, the New York Dolls haven’t been recognized yet, and many other important punk bands have been completely overlooked.

The Sex Pistols are well-known for skipping their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Axl Rose also didn’t attend. Despite hearing criticisms of the Hall of Fame, the experience at the 2024 induction for Ozzy Osbourne was actually very positive. It was a fun night backstage, with lots of friendly faces, and they even spent time with Kool & the Gang – Kool, who is around 80 years old, was enjoying himself.

Stevens believes the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has changed significantly from its original vision. Some people question choices like inducting Salt-N-Pepa, arguing they don’t fit the traditional definition of rock and roll. However, Stevens sees this as a positive development.

Someone said the people choosing nominees shifted from being associated with Rolling Stone magazine to MTV. I was wondering, did you feel accepted by the more established, older group at Rolling Stone?

Idol: They did put me on the cover of the magazine. I think people were so focused on the 1960s and 70s that they struggled to believe anything worthwhile could come from the 1980s.

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2026-04-21 20:34